Thomas Nashe and His Contemporaries

This symposium explores the works and significance of Thomas Nashe (1567 – c.1600), an innovative writer whose influence on prose extends well beyond his own period. Nashe was also a significant dramatist, collaborating with Marlowe, Jonson, and Shakespeare, while his bitter quarrel with the humanist educator, Gabriel Harvey, and his part in the Marprelate controversy expanded the possibilities of English invective and satire. Showcasing the Folger’s exceptional manuscript and print collection of his writings, the symposium will help recover Nashe and his world—especially London, Cambridge, and Great Yarmouth. Session topics will include geographies, oral/aural culture, genres, drama, popular culture, and pamphlets; two dozen participants with relevant projects will be welcomed to join the conversation.